If you are on the promotion track, you will probably be required to submit a resume to your employer even if you have been with the company for several years. Your boss might have been aware of your achievements at the time they occurred, but you still need to remind your supervisors of all your successful endeavors. Although it can be time-consuming to put together an excellent resume that highlights your accomplishments, it's well worth the effort.

1. Prepare the resume as if the position was with a different organization. Do not assume that, because you are applying for an internal promotion, the person reading your resume will be familiar with your work.

2. Make a bullet-point list of your achievements. Include all incidents where you took some initiative or demonstrated leadership characteristics.

3. Itemize any challenges or obstacles you faced for each achievement listed.

4. Add a description explaining how you overcame the obstacles. For example, if you implemented an innovative method of tracking past sales, explain why this presented difficulty and what you did to address the problem successfully.

5. Make a list of the qualities or characteristics you know are required in the new position you are applying for. Match your professional experiences to the future job's requirements. Highlight the experiences you've had that demonstrate your expertise in the areas that the new job will require.

6. Include any upgrading courses, conferences or workshops you have attended. If these were offered by your current employer, do not assume that they will have a record of your attendance. Provide some details that reflect how you grew or developed as a result of the training and how it has prepared you for the next step in your career.

7. Add any examples when you went "above and beyond" what your co-workers have done. For example, have you worked more overtime? Voluntarily offered to take on additional duties? Stepped in to assist overworked or absent workers? Jot down all these examples to demonstrate you are a hard worker who embraces opportunities to do extra work when needed.

8. List any awards or letters of praise you received in recognition of your superior performance.

9. Include any committees or problem-solving task forces you might have participated in. Record any of your suggestions that were implemented with positive results.

10. Describe any experiences you've had that reveal your reliability, teamwork, and communication skills. These qualities are valued by most employers.

11. Remember that, as an internal candidate, you do have an advantage over external applicants. Highlight your familiarity with your employer and the loyalty you've demonstrated to the company during the time you've worked there.

12. Decide whether you will organize your points in chronological order or in a way that will emphasize the achievements most relevant to the next position.

13. Describe your skill set at the top of your resume. Create a list of skills you possess that you know are important in the position you want.

14. Type the resume. Be concise. Edit your sentences so that each one includes necessary detail in an efficient and succinct manner. Be meticulous in spell-checking. Your resume must stand out from the others by being very well-written and professionally laid out.

About the Author

Freddie Silver started writing newsletters for the Toronto District School Board in 1997. Her areas of expertise include staff management and professional development. She holds a master's degree in psychology from the University of Toronto and is currently pursuing her PhD at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, focusing on emotions and professional relationships.